UFC Fight Night 30’s Biggest Losers: What’s Next?

Rosi Sexton (13-4 / Lost via Unanimous Decision to Jessica Andrade)

There was a time when Sexton was considered to be one of the top female fighters in the sport and the statement may still ring true in terms of 125ers. However, she clearly can’t hang at bantamweight as evident from her second straight lopsided loss inside the Octagon. Opponent Jessica Andrade had little trouble handling Sexton’s offense and may have picked up a TKO win at one point had a different referee been overseeing the action. Unfortunately, Sexton doesn’t have a long leash based on being 36 years old, so odds are high she’ll be released in the coming weeks. Sexton could end up taking a tilt on the regional scene, but her inability to compete on the sport’s biggest stage combined with age may ultimately spark her retirement since she’s a highly successful academic and doesn’t NEED to fight.

Andrew Craig (9-2 / Lost via Submission to Luke Barnatt)

Craig was the definite favorite entering his effort against the unproven Barnatt but, as MMA has shown time and time again, no outcome is truly guaranteed. He was picked apart by the lanky Brit and eventually submitted after being rocked on a couple of occasions. His next clash should come against a fighter with similar standing in the division. C.B. Dollaway would make sense and is available with a handful of other possibilities opening up after November including names like Ed Herman and Chris Camozzi.

Alessio Sakara (15-11 / Lost via Submission to Nicholas Musoke)

Sakara is no doubt skating on thin ice after losing his fourth straight showdown, falling to a relative unknown like Musoke no less. However, the Italian boxer still has some hope if you dig beneath the surface. Sakara dealt with multiple withdrawals leading up to his match-up with Musoke and never had a full camp to focus on one opponent. Also worth mentioning, one of his losses was a questionable Disqualification stemming from a finish of Patrick Cote and another was a decision to champion Chris Weidman. With all those factors at play, Sakara should get one more shot at success in the Octagon. One option worth considering could be Andrew Craig, who was also tapped out over the weekend, or one of the many mid-tier middleweights out there a la C.B. Dollaway or Trevor Smith.

Ryan Jimmo (18-3 / Lost via TKO to Jimi Manuwa)

Jimmo didn’t look terrible against the British slugger and was hanging around before a freak leg injury took him out. Of course, that’s not to say Manuwa wouldn’t have finished off Jimmo had action kept going, as he was picking up steam and landing some stiff strikes. Regardless, the bout ended, and Jimmo exited it with a loss in tow. He’ll never be a title-contender but he’s a tough out for most opponents and at least worthy of gatekeeper status. There aren’t a lot of 205ers out there who aren’t already scheduled for action but, depending on the severity of Jimmo’s injury, that may not matter. Someone like Rafael Cavalcante or Ryan Bader would make for an interesting match-up regardless of how they fare in their upcoming fights.

Guillard’s incidental (but illegal) knees to a barely-grounded Pearson busted the Brit’s forehead open and caused doctors to intervene. Though neither man actually lost, neither walked away victorious, and the bout’s ending certainly felt like defeat to fans invested in seeing the scrap unfold. Apparently a rematch between the two has been booked but not until March when the UFC returns to England. However, Guillard is itching to fight again after coming so close to victory and is healthy. The powers that be could easily appease him by offering up a spot in early December against Roger Bowling or Anthony Njokuani, both of whom would assist in delivering fireworks against a striker like Guillard, while still giving Pearson enough time to heal up from his nasty cut before battling “The Young Assassin” in a rematch.

Mark Munoz (13-4 / Lost via Knockout to Lyoto Machida)

Munoz’s chin has been suspect for awhile and Machida offered up evidence as to why with a head-kick knockout despite “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” partially blocking the blow. The 35-year old probably saw any future hopes of a title-shot go out the window with the defeat but he can still be a player at 185 pounds. Alan Belcher would serve as an interesting adversary since he and Munoz are longtime UFC veterans who haven’t ever crossed paths in the cage, as would Michael Bisping who was supposed to mix it up with Munoz before an injury cost him his spot in the fight.

Eleven individuals came up short at UFC Fight Night 30 and are currently dealing with the hangover of defeat. In some cases, the losses were worse than others, coming in particularly pivotal pairings or involving eye-opening upsets. Meanwhile, lightweights Melvin Guillard and Ross Pearson are also probably feeling a bit low after their bout was stopped due to damage from an accidental, illegal knee and ruled a No Contest. (Photos by USA Today Sports Images)

Munoz vs Belcher would be a great match up, as for Sakara I just do not see a place for him in the UFC anymore. Jimmo has already fought and lost to Te Huna so that match shouldnt happen so soon, but match him up with Hammel if Matt still wants to fight.